When Leaders Fall

It seems to happen way too often.

We’re going to take the whole of Matthew 23 in one shot today. It’s not that there aren’t things we could break down and look at more closely (and we have/will in other years). But for today, just note Jesus’ very direct words toward hypocrisy and abuse at the hands of religious leaders.

It’s probably true that there has been no time period in which religious leaders have been perfect. But it sure seems that things have been especially bad in recent decades.

Why do leaders go bad?

There are many reasons for sure. But perhaps a central one has to do with power and control. It is really hard for a single human to wield power well. Churches and congregations get big. Denominations get wrapped up in structural power. Famous musicians and artists seem to feel invincible. Even theologians and scholars let their prowess take them in places Jesus would never have them go.

Jesus warns about titles and roles in this passage. Rabbis, fathers, and teachers - it’s not that they shouldn’t exist necessarily (other scriptures clearly delineate their place). The danger is always when leaders forget that authority is only ever derivative — not from themselves, but from God. And in the Kingdom, authority is expressed not in domination but in service

Matthew 23

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples, “The legal experts and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. Therefore, you must take care to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others, but are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do, they do to be noticed by others. They make extra-wide prayer bands for their arms and long tassels for their clothes. They love to sit in places of honor at banquets and in the synagogues. They love to be greeted with honor in the markets and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’

“But you shouldn’t be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Don’t call anybody on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is heavenly. Don’t be called teacher, because Christ is your one teacher. But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You shut people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don’t enter yourselves, and you won’t allow those who want to enter to do so.

“How terrible it will be for you, legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to make one convert. But when they’ve been converted, they become twice the child of hell you are.

“How terrible it will be for you blind guides who say, ‘If people swear by the temple, it’s nothing. But if people swear by the gold in the temple, they are obligated to do what they swore.’ You foolish and blind people! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy? You say, ‘If people swear by the altar, it’s nothing. But if they swear by the gift on the altar, they are obligated to do what they swore.’ You blind people! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? Therefore, those who swear by the altar swear by it and by everything that’s on it. Those who swear by the temple swear by it and by everything that’s part of it. Those who swear by heaven swear by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You give to God a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, but you forget about the more important matters of the Law: justice, peace, and faith. You ought to give a tenth but without forgetting about those more important matters. You blind guides! You filter out an ant but swallow a camel.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of violence and pleasure seeking. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of the cup will be clean too.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. They look beautiful on the outside. But inside they are full of dead bones and all kinds of filth. In the same way you look righteous to people. But inside you are full of pretense and rebellion.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. You say, ‘If we had lived in our ancestors’ days, we wouldn’t have joined them in killing the prophets.’ You testify against yourselves that you are children of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, complete what your ancestors did. You snakes! You children of snakes! How will you be able to escape the judgment of hell? Therefore, look, I’m sending you prophets, wise people, and legal experts. Some of them you will kill and crucify. And some you will beat in your synagogues and chase from city to city. Therefore, upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been poured out on the earth, from the blood of that righteous man Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. I assure you that all these things will come upon this generation.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your people together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. Look, your house is left to you deserted. I tell you, you won’t see me until you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.”

Psalm 94:1-7, 20-23

Lord, avenging God—avenging God, show yourself! Rise up, judge of the earth! Pay back the arrogant exactly what they deserve! How long will the wicked—oh, Lord!—how long will the wicked win? They spew arrogant words; all the evildoers are bragging. They crush your own people, Lord! They abuse your very own possession. They kill widows and immigrants; they murder orphans, saying all the while, “The Lord can’t see it; Jacob’s God doesn’t know what’s going on!”

Can a wicked ruler be your ally; one who wreaks havoc by means of the law? The wicked gang up against the lives of the righteous. They condemn innocent blood. But the Lord is my fortress; my God is my rock of refuge. He will repay them for their wickedness, completely destroy them because of their evil. Yes, the Lord our God will completely destroy them.

Prayer

God,

Humble us, Mary-like, to understand our place in your Kingdom. Give us the power to declare yours. Strike us down when we take it up for ourselves. Give those who oversee people the gravity to know their role.

Including me.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.